Five Players Score in Double-Digits in 88-67 Win Over Trinity

Allen Williamson scored a game- and career-high 21 points in the win.

AMHERST, MA – The 9th-ranked Amherst College men’s basketball team picked up its 16th straight win to start the season, ousting NESCAC rival Trinity College 88-67 at home in conference play. With the result, Amherst is 3-0 in conference play, while Trinity falls to 10-7 (1-2 NESCAC) on the year.

Five players scored in double-digits for Amherst, with sophomore Allen Williamson (Saugus, MA) leading the way with a game- and career-high 21 points, shooting 6-for-6 from the floor and 9-for-10 from the line. Willy Workman (Northampton, MA), Conor Meehan (Meriden, CT), Taylor Barrise (Allendale, NJ) and Aaron Toomey (Greensboro, NC) joined Williamson in double figures. Toomey was also 6-for-6 from the field with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.

Amherst shot 60% from the field in the game and held a 31-18 edge in rebounding to power the win. Trinity made 21-of-43 attempts (48.8%) in the loss, with Eric Dean, Cameron Sutton and Brian Ford each scoring in double figures.

Amherst quickly jumped out to a 13-5 lead with 7:20 to play as Barrise hit a three from the left wing, and Workman stole the ensuing inbounds pass for a layup. After a timeout by Trinity, Meehan banked in a runner for a 10 point lead.

By the 12:49 mark, Trinity trailed 23-13 despite making five of its first seven shots from the floor. Amherst held a 4-0 edge in rebounds early on, making nine of its first 11 shots for a blazing start to the game. Trinity’s Dean made a jumper for the Bantams in response, and Ian Fels made a pair at the line to close the gap to 24-17.

Toomey helped the Jeffs hold their lead through the middle of the half, twice finishing off three-point plays the old fashioned way and then knocking down a deep triple on the left wing.

During a four minute span, Trinity trimmed the margin from 13 points to just five at 35-30. Amherst responded, finishing the half on a 10-4 run to head into the break up 45-34. Williamson and Meehan carried the load for the Jeffs to end the half, scoring the final six points of the frame for Amherst.

Amherst scored the first five points of the second half to blow its lead up to 50-34. Luke MacDougall scored on back-to-back possessions for the Bantams, briefly shrinking the Amherst lead to 53-40 with 15:53 to play.

After picking off a pass, Toomey fed Williamson with an alley-oop from just over half court. Williamson finished at the rim with a lay-in, making his fifth straight basket to start the game. On Amherst’s next possession, Toomey assisted on a three by Barrise. Soon after, Toomey added a three of his own from the left corner to stretch the lead to 68-50.

Dean put Trinity on his back, scoring seven straight points for the Bantams to shave the gap to 70-57 with 10:27 remaining. Amherst responded exactly as you would expect a top-10 team to, going on a 13-3 run to all but put the game away with seven minutes to play.

Trinity never made another run, as Amherst dribbled out the clock for an 88-67 victory. The Lord Jeffs will return to action next weekend, playing a pair of road conference games at Colby and Bowdoin on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.